Shloka 43

Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

वानप्रस्थं द्विजातीनां त्रयाणामुपदिश्यते । सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां गार्हस्थ्यं तद्‌ विधीयते

Transliteration

vānaprasthaṃ dvijātīnāṃ trayāṇām upadiśyate | sarveṣām eva varṇānāṃ gārhasthyaṃ tad vidhīyate ||

Translation

ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ—ବାନପ୍ରସ୍ଥ ଆଶ୍ରମ ତିନି ଦ୍ୱିଜ (ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ, କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ, ବୈଶ୍ୟ) ପାଇଁ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଗାର୍ହସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଆଶ୍ରମ ସମସ୍ତ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପାଇଁ ବିଧିତ।

Word by Word

• वानप्रस्थम्: the vānaprastha (forest-dweller stage)
• वानप्रस्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्विजातीनाम्: of the twice-born (classes)
• द्विजातीनाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• त्रयाणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• उपदिश्यते: is prescribed / is taught
• उपदिश्यते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√दिश्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• एव: indeed / only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वर्णानाम्: of the varṇas (social classes)
• वर्णानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: the householder stage
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• विधीयते: is ordained / is enjoined
• विधीयते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (वि-√धा)
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• dvijāti (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya)
• varṇa
• vānaprastha-āśrama
• gārhasthya-āśrama

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse distinguishes eligibility and universality within āśrama-dharma: vānaprastha is specifically prescribed for the three twice-born varṇas, while gārhasthya (householder duty) is prescribed for all varṇas as the common social and ethical foundation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is instructing the listener(s) on dharma-oriented life-stages, setting out who is enjoined to undertake forest-dwelling austerities and affirming that household responsibilities apply across society, as part of a broader teaching that leads toward self-knowledge and disciplined living.